THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2975, 22 March 1911, Page 58

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

By Sentry.

litems of interest concerning corps (town and country), shooting, and defence matters generallv will be accepted. Copy, addressed to. " Sentry," should be in hand by noon on Thursday.]

The rush for enrolment in the Territorials was strikingly apparent on luesdaj, 14th inst., when, in responseito the advertised invitation, no fewer than 50 young men of an acceptable stamp turned up at Se local Field Ambulance orderly room. The officers had a strenuous time putting the applicants through the teste. Some 20 were- duly examined and enrolled, and. on Thursday another batch was put through. The officers expect that the full establishment of 210 will be completed before the close of the month. . , B Batterv is experiencing a somewna-t eimilar inundation, this arm of the service being very attractive to soldiers in embryo The battery's annual smoke eonjert' will be held on Friday next An invitation to attend is acknowledged with thanks. _ - ~ • ... Captain Black, officer commanding the Otao-o Hussars, will be present at Out ram D n March 20, at the orderly room, Dunlin on March 21, and at Mosgiel on March '22, at 8 p.m., for the purpose of Inspecting intending recruits, of whom iherTis no lack. The shooting for the Squadron's Belt will take place at the range Wingatui, on March 25 and April 1 Mid 8, commencing at 1.30 p.m. sharp each day, at 300 and 600 jards. The following team has been selected to represent Otago in the interprdvincial Bhooting match aeainst Southland, at Balclutha. on Saturday, March 25, the conditions being seven shots and one sighter at 200, 500, and 600 yards, 20 men a-side : Lieutenants Bryce, Capstick, Crimp, Sergt.nxajor Montgomery, Q.M.S. Facer, Sergeants Montgomery, Geddes, Wilson, Birrt, Corporal F. Mackay, Gunner Keenan, Privates Morrison, Hartv. Porteous, Jones, Johnson, G. P. Crimp, Riflemen Fenwick, Dippie, Potter; emergencies—Napier, Duncan, Moseloy, Fletcher, Logan, Bradley, Keilar, Edwards, Cameron. Any of the above who find they are not available for that date should communicate with the secretary of the Otago Rifle Association, Captain Laeey, Dunedin. Arrangements are being made with the Clutha Corps whereby Bisley targets will be in use. A careful inspection of the score sheets in connection with the Ladies' Challenge Shield, has revealed the fact that Private Harty, of the Dunedin Rifles, has been credited with eight instead of seven shots. His sighter registered a bull's-eye. Then follewed a miss, which he challenged without result. The remaining shots showed 55 5 4 4 5. In totalling- the score the dot which indicated the miss was overlooked, the score being registered as 33. The 5 from the last shot must therefore be deducted, leaving his score 28. This reduces the Dunedin Rifles' total. Caversham Rifles therefore take second place, the Dunedin Rifles dropping back to third. T- have been asked to state that my recent paragraph in re uniforms for the Dunedin Garrison Band did "not emanate from any member of the band. I cheerfully accept responsibility for the paragraph and all that it meant. Let me add here that there are openings in the ranks of the band for half a dozen smart lads (about 14 years aid), who in return for their services will iw taught musjc, manners, and other accomplishments. Preference will be given to '•uch as can provide their own instruments. DOMINION RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING, 1911. By a Competitob. The Dominion Rifle meeting just con.iuded was a record in numbers, 395 competitors taking part. A large number journeyed from the south, comprising many old shots, who make it their annual holiday, and; very many young shots, who made their first appearance, and who in many instances did remarkably well. Some got eye and hand in by attending the South Island and Greytown meetings, either of "which is a good preliminary for the big championship meeting. Others again eontented themselves with two days' practice cm the Trentham range. It is quite a pleasure to meet so many old friends once a year on the Txentham range, and it goes a long way in compenrating for the luck in not getting into prize lists. The veterans Parslow, Ross (Carbine Ross), and Tom Frazer were once nxsre competing against the younger members. I heard one old shot remark that he thought, instead of giving tyro prizes, prizes should be given to the old shots to encourage them to shoot against the tyros, .as the latter were too good for them now. However, it is nice to see the older ones still taking ah -'ntereht. Old George Loveday was also there, as was his son. The latter ghot well, beating his father badly. Harry Ijfawi born did not compete, but acted as rouge officer. His brother George was absent, Kavinsr taken up a sheep run away north. Ned Shaw, another Bisley rep., was » competitor, but was suffering badly from Influenza, and was not fit to shoot. Ching, Milroy, and Irvine, the three Nelson cracks, who won the Belt in three successive years, were again competing. Milroy finished jhirteenth, Ching did very little, and Irvine «as very much out of form. George Hyde, the winner of the Belt on two occasions—--1902 and 1908,—filled forty-seventh place this year. He felt in championship form, he said, but did not seem to be able to do mueh good.

The following are a few scores jotted aown casually from some of the hoards: — Irvine, 900yds, 30020234553. Rennie, of Christehurch, made 45 at 900, and commenced at 1000yds thus: 020000. I did not *ee the finish. Speck made a total of 8. end. Drummond 9. Smaill, who was well Up among the leaders, came to grief, as he failed to find the target with his eleven shots. Several Otago and Southland men who were well uo in the lead, fell • right away at the finish. The exoentions were Facer (Port Chalmers). Fen wick (Dunedin R.C.) —who shot well for his first year—»nd Hogg (Oamaru), these three being in Jhe final 50. Moss (Bluff) and Bradley (Dunedin) opened up well, hut dropped haok at the finish. Ayson and Wills, the two Southland cracks, could not strike it. The latter, however, was selected in the team )f riflemen for the United Service matoh. tad put up a very fair score. A great lumber of rifles became nickled, and I Relieve this was the cause of many bad pores. The hot weather and the 'rapid Wng in the service matches would tend X) cause the barrels to nieldo.

Now a word about the service matches. One fault in regard to the service matches was that a competitor had not the satisfaction of knowing what he had done unless he was fortunate enough to get into the prize list. He might fire in all the service matches and yet not know if he had struck the target. It would be much more interesting and give more satisfaction if the competitor know what ho was doing. The same applies in regard to the team matches. About 50 teams competed, and unless a team was first, second, or third, its members had no idea what, damage they had done to the targets. This is not right, for after a team runs all over the range and fire away hundreds of rounds of ammunition the men should have the satisfaction of learning what amount of damage they have inflicted on the enemy, otherwise the interest is taken away. In some oases the scoring was erratic (I am referring to the service matches). The scor.ing is done in the trenches, and when the prize list was posted up men were found to have been awarded prizes who did not even compete for them. One reckoned he had just as much chance whether he fii-ed or not. In one service match the firing was delayed for fully an hour in consequence of the competitors' targets not being in line with their numbers. For instance, No. 6 target was opposite No. 7, No. 5 target was opposite No. 6, and so on. The mistake was discovered as soon as No. I of each squad had fired, but the error was not rectified, and No. 2's also fired on the wrong targets. Then oame a spell for one hour while the range officers tried to remedy the mistake. In one service match the men had to gallop 300yds, jumping ditches, logs, tussocks, etc. The time was taken from when the fastest man reached the mound, and a number of shots was jred in a given time. Of course the slow runners had no chance in this match. In some cases running shoes were worn, and I can assure you those fortunate possessors led the field in their various heats. Some competitors even in their hobnails proved fast harriers. One fell and broke a rib, but that did not matter, as he was not a competitor—only a range officer —and it occurred while attending to his duty. It will be wise for next year's competitors to join harrier clubs and go in for cross-country runs. But, seriously, I don't think that in advancing upon an enemy one would gallop from 600yds as hard as he could go up to within 300yds of the enemy and expect to lie down and shoot straight. I think the first one would be the most likely to get popped over. If they went at the ordinary double it would be more reasonable, but every time someone or other is bound to bolt, and the others, of course, have to follow him. Although supposed to be compulsory, these matches are dodged by a great many. Can you blame then), under such conditions? Some of the service matches .are not so bad. . The Running Man. is rather a favourite match, as also is the Surprise Targets in the Teams' Match, the only drawback being that the results are not made known. No doubt next year, as service targets and conditions will be the principal feature, they will be made more attractive and be better arranged. The range officers do their best, and' deserve the thanks and assistance of the competitors. The latter must bear in mind that these officers give their services free, and at times have it prettv hard rjinning up and down the range. Naturally, mistakes are made at times, and some who are there for the first time have a lot to learn at the commencement. The markers were a first-class lot. The bull'seye target was used at 200, 800, 900, and 1000 yards. The service target (greeri lower half and grey above) was used at 600 and 500 yards, with -a black head and shoulders about the centre —not the brown head and shoulders we have been using in the south. 1 It was announced that this was tbe last of the bull's-eye shooting, and next year it will be all service targets. Most of the marksmen felt somewhat sad over the fate of the bull's-eye, and it was. predicted that in two years' time there will be an association as of old before it was taken over by the Government. It remains for the authorities to make the next meeting as attractive as possible. Few would object to service targets as used at the present time, and it is thought probable that the championship series of a few matohes will bo fired on those targets, while the rest of the matches will be service matches under service conditions. We all await anxiously the next programme. It was a surprise to most when Colonel Collins announced that a Bisley team would be sent Home this year. Roots, Henderson, and Sergeant Frank will be certainties, but many well up in the 50 will no doubt bo passed over for more tried shots who were not this time so fortunate, and find themselves lower down the list. Roots is a very quiet, unassuming young man, and well deserving of his victory. A win by Sergeant Frank would have been very popular, as he had shot so well right through the meeting. He is another noted Nelson shot, and has been doing a great amount of snooting for the past six months. A large number of competitors and others always gathered near him when he was firing. This would make some feel nervous, but I don't know that it affected Frank.

The last few shots fired for the championship were very exciting to the onlookers. After the usual speeches and presentation of prizes everyone was in a hurry to paok up and eatch the train ; and after all, when one returns home, he thinks he has had a real good holiday. Although he may not have won his way into the prize-lists of many or any matches, he thinks of the real good time in spite of bad scores, living a free life in canvastown away from all worry of business, meeting all the good fellows he has foregathered with on so many previous occasions. After all, Trentham, in spite of its trickiness, has ite advantages. Some old faces are missing, many are there, and there are also new ones. Let Ufi hop* that we may yet find sufficient inducement in next year's programme to bring us once more together to talk over past experiences and to vie with each other for the coveted " Ballinger Belt." APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. WELLINGTON, March 16. The final list of military appointments was promulgated to-day as follows : —To be attached to the C4eneral Staff: Major Hughes, Captains Richardson, Duigan, and Robinson, Lieutenant Thornton. To be A.A.G. : Captain Chesney; A Q.M.G., Captain Browne; A.A. and A.Q.M.G., Wellington District, Lieutenant Bosworth. Brigade Majors : Mounted—Canterbury, Captain Barton; Otago, Captain Grant;

Wellington, Captain Whyte; Infantry— Auckland, Lieutenant Melville. Otago appointments to be adjutants : Mounted, Lieutenants Banks, Glendining, and Hay; infantry, Lieutenants Fraser, Hudson, Henderson, and Richardson. Temporarily attached to the district staff as inspector of senior cadets, Lieutenant Thorns; temporarily attached to the infantry brigade staffs, and to proceed later to England or India for instruction, Lieutenant Burn; temporarily attached to the district staff. Lieutenant Wheeler. Area non-commissioned officers : Sergeantmajors Burgess, Catto, Staff Instructors Alexander, Cuff, Donaldson, Edwards, Ivimey, Muir, M'Cardy, M'Grun, Stevenson, Wright. Sergeant-majors of regiments and battalions :—Mounted, Conolly; infantry, Healy and Roberts. THE TAUHERENIKAU TRAINING CAMP. CFeom Oub Own Cobbespondent.) WELLINGTON, March 16. The Commandant of the Cadet Forces, who visited Tauherenikau at the invitation of General Godley, is loud in his praises of the camp. He was much impressed with the general organisation, and particularly with the sanitary arrangements. He looked upon the camp as being a model to be followed throughout New Zealand, and it was his intention, as far as camps for junior Cadet officers were concerned, to follow as nearly as possible on these lines. He was of opinion that when the superior nature of these camps became known young men would look upon it as a privilege to undergo a course of training in them. This is only one of many such favourable criticisms that one hears of the work of General Godley and his men. LIST OF REGIMENTS. WELLINGTON, March 17. The following is the list of regiments forming the defence force as newly organised, showing the territorial association of each. The list is arranged in order of seniority : Mounted Rifles. —let, Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry; 2nd, Wellington and West Coast; 3rd, Auckland; 4th, Waikato; sth, Otago Hussars; 6th, Manawatu; 7th, Southland; Bth, South Canterbury; 9th, Wellington and East Coast; 10th, Nelson; 11th, North of Auckland,; 12th, Otago. Infantry.—lst, Canterbury Regiment; 2nd, South Canterbury; 3rd, Auckland (" Countess of Ranfurly's Own"); 4th, Otago Rifles; sth> Wellington Rifles; 6th, Hauraki; 7th, Wellington and West Coast Rifles; Bth, South Rifles; 9th, Wellington and East Coast Rifles; 10th, North Otago Rifles; 11th, Taranaki Rifles; 12th, Nelson ; 13th, North Canterbury; 14th, South Otago Rifles; 15th, North of Auckland; 16th, Waikato. CAMP OF INSTRUCTION. WELLINGTON, March 17. The camp of instruction held at Tauherenikau to lay the foundations of the new defence scheme was brought to a close, to-day. General Godley (Commandant of the Forces), in an interview, said the camp had been of inestimable value. It had enabled the whole of the commanding officers to witness and discuss concerted movements. He could hardly lay too much stress upon ite importance. The great object had been achieved of securing uniformity in training methods. During the final weeks of the camp a programme of lectures and field operations was carried out. Following on a lectureby Captain Hamilton upon drill, General Godley laid great emphasis upon the necessity of thorough drill, stating that when the Japanese reserves first joined the armies in Manchuria they were put through a drill course for six weeks, in spite of the fact that they had undergone a severe course of field training before leaving Japan, the reason being that they lacked that steadiness which was so essential to success when under fire. On another occasion the commandant asked all the officers present to note the arrangement of the camp, which had been laid out by Captain Browne, and could be taken as a model. The arrangements were all the outcome of bitter experience of the neglect of sanitary prcautions. General Godley also laid stress on the necessity of using broad-toed boots in marching. The final morning was devoted to battalion drill, and a lecture on discipline was given by Colonel Heard, at the conclusion of which General Godley laid stress on the example which all who had been trained in camp should set to the force at large. He thanked all ranks for the way they had worked in camp, and expressed the hope that they would continue to 6et a high example of discipline and efficiency to the defence force generally. Colonel Robin, C. 8., who has been assisting throughout in all matters of organisation, has made' arrangements for the disposal of the horses which were purchased for use in the camp. The proclamation calling on all those liable for service to register themselves will be posted on April 3.